To my lifelong friend, Venessa Tripp, who through your animated storytelling over lunch unknowingly sparked an idea in my mind, and so the character of Wendy Buchanan was created, thank you.

To my friend Robyn Proctor, for sharing your stories of growing up in Tumbarumba, thank you. A few snippets of your extensive knowledge of the area have found their way into the story.

To the helpful staff at the Snowy Hydro Information Centre, Khancoban, thank you.

To Claire Rogerson of Snowy Access, for your wonderful four-wheel drive tour to see the historic alpine huts, thank you.

To the many readers who enjoy my books, a very big thank you. Without you, none of this would be possible.

Finally, and most importantly, my precious family. To my husband Damian, for your continuing love and support throughout the writing of this novel and for your decades of legal practise, which I relied on for authenticity during the legal and court scenes, thank you. To my daughter Danielle, for the glasses of wine and endless conversations when we’re together and for applying your brief-writing skills to clean up the dreaded synopsis, thank you. You know the story almost as well as I do. To my son Adam, for the regular Facetime calls from the USA, especially during the last two difficult years, and for using your skills as a composer to write the music for the Dead Horse Gap trailer, thank you. You three have my heart forever.